No Half measure for Gats
MATT FREEMAN Wales 24 Argentina 20 LEIGH HALFPENNY nailed a penalty two minutes from time to thwart a spirited Argentine comeback.
Tries from Liam Williams and Gareth Davies could not break the shackles from the Pumas, who scored themselves through Martin Landajo and Juan Hernandez and simply would not go away in this nip-and-tuck encounter.
Williams (below) had a try chalked off and, after trading late penalties, it was Halfpenny’s boot which made the difference for Warren Gatland’s men.
Halfpenny booted four penalties in all against the side which reached the World Cup semis and the win gets Wales’ Autumn campaign back on track after a mauling against Australia last week.
Man of the match Alun Wyn Jones said: “We knew we were pretty poor in the first game against Australia and we had to play and be a credit for the people who turned up.
“We’ve taken a lot of criticism, rightly so, but we wanted to prove people wrong.”
Twickenham tries from Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, George Ford and Owen Farrell ensured Eddie Jones’ men picked up where they left off on the other side of the world in the summer.
England had lost 11 out of the previous 12 clashes between the two sides with the other one a draw.
So they were on a mission to win and continue their dramatic rise up the international ladder.
The home side obliged with an impressive display to stretch their unbeaten streak to 10 wins under head coach Jones.
Captain Hartley said: “This is a real monkey off our back. It’s been 10 long years and it’s good to put this record straight.
“I’m proud of the guys and it’s another step forward for the team.
“We still have plenty to work on in terms of discipline with six penalties given away in the first 20 minutes.
“We will have to sort that out and make sure we are better in that area against Fiji.”
Boss Jones said: “We began poorly but for most of the game we had firm control.
“It was another step up from the Australia series and the guys have to keep looking to improve all the time.
“We took our chances well and it’s a good start with three more tough Tests ahead.” South Africa endured another bad day at the office having had a terrible Rugby Championship before drawing with the Barbarians last week.
They met an England side full of confidence and Jones, who helped South Africa beat England in the 2007 World Cup Final when he was a forwards adviser, wanted to put the boot into his old side.
England began badly after fly-half Patrick Lambie punished their indiscipline with two early penalties.
But once the men in white started playing it was one-way traffic with May, back from a long injury absence, racing over in the left corner for the opening try.
Farrell converted superbly from the touchline to show his radar was well and truly fixed on.
Lambie nailed a third penalty but England’s attack struck with venom again, as this time lock Lawes